Hindustan Motors Ambassador – A legacy!

With Ambassador been taken over by the French Car maker, the well-known car of all times gets back into the hot topics of town. Let’s know how it all started.

Long long ago, there was a day when Hindustan Motors launched the Ambassador back in 1958. The vehicle was based on the Morris Oxford Series three vehicle. Proudly tagged as the King of the streets, the Ambassador has served the country for a long 59 years. Ambassador has proved to be one of the ruling vehicles on the streets. Although it had its ups and downs, the vehicle has made its bold mark in the Indian Industry.

Morris Oxford Series II. Original Inspiration for the Ambassador. (SOURCE)

Nearing the 20th century, Ambassador faced the downfall due to the entry of cheap and reliable cars, in the market. Thereafter the vehicle was widely accepted as a taxi in the country and was also often referred as a politician’s car. The vehicle always held a respect for a car of status and luxury.

The Reign:

The design element of the Ambassador always went through some minimalistic changes and updates, but the original shell never changed. The vehicle was, is and will be identical in its unique sense. Till date the design is exactly the same as that of the Morris Oxford Series III, just the old grille was updated.

The Hindustan Motors Company was established as a flagship company of the C. K. Birla Group just before Indian Independence. They then started assembly of ambassador in a small unit in Gujrat near port Okha in 1958. The project was then run under the name Hindustan 10, as it was a replica of the Morris 10. Thereafter the Morris Series II was introduced as Hindustan 14.

The ambassador was in production until 2014, 1958-2014 is really a great deal of time. When it comes to the motoring world, there are changes and updates available to every other accessory and vehicle out there, every other minute but in such a scenario, this warrior sustained its position for a long 59 years!

Long Journey:

There are things which are never much appreciated but are worth all the applauding. There are actors who deserve an oscar but hardly get a nomination. Similarly, this vehicle was underrated from the beginning. Never was it much appreciated nor was it praised to peaks. But the one thing we can’t forget is that every other lady in the country who can spell an English name knows ambassador.

Even when the teacher teaches A-B-C-D, if you observe neatly, you’ll see an ambassador on the chart which will symbolise a C for Car. Later when the child grows, he knows that it wasn’t C for Car, but A for Ambassador.

The Company and vehicle have lasted ever since the Indian Independence and that itself is a proud thing for Indians. Now that we all know, Ambassador brand name and the trademarks were taken over by the French car manufacturer Peugeot. Peugeot now plans to hit the markets with this brand name or at least with its tag and glory in 2018.

High, Expectations:

The French Car Manufacturer.

As Ambassador has been a status symbol for years from now, the Indian market expects PSA to follow its footsteps. People are expecting nothing less from PSA, every ambassador admirer is expecting a bad-ass saloon sedan to hit the roads with some new tech suited in it. Needless to say, PSA has a great history and it will do the justice vehicle deserves.

For India, people have grown up seeing ambassador cars as their dream car. Today’s leading leaders and Indian CEO’s of multinational companies once surely had a dream of buying an ambassador for themselves. Politicians used to flaunt being in their luxurious white ambassador while political rallies. For us Indians, that is not just a vehicle, but it somehow seems to be a feeling. No matter you loved the vehicle or you didn’t give a thought about what that four wheeler is, you sure have heard this name once in your life. May it be old movies, or cliched police chase off in classic movies. Everyone has seen this beauty roll, willingly or unwillingly.

Hence when people get to know that the vehicle of their old times is going to hit the market, no doubt curiosity will arise. Thus until 2018, there will be eyes waiting to see what PSA comes with. May it be a badass sedan or a cute little hatchback. Whatever it is, people will try to find their old beauty in those curves! Until those times, Cheers to the great times Ambassador has shown to India. To a company and a brand, the nation is and will be proud of!